'Changing' is a periodic look at the changes influencing Oakland County, the region, and the state.

It’s mid morning on Wednesday at the Older Persons Commission building in Rochester, and it’s busy – from the pool to the pickleball courts to the walking track to the woodshop.

The 90,000-square-foot facility on Letica Road that’s open to people age 50 and up is supported by a small property tax in Rochester, Rochester Hills and Oakland Township – a millage that goes back to the 1980s, although the current building is much newer.

It has 11,000 members, and its growing.

“We’ve definitely seen an increase just from one year to the next,” said Renee Cortright, executive director of the OPC. “We have new members coming in every day to register with the organization.”

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The growing popularity of the facility highlights the aging that is happening in Oakland County and across Michigan.

From 2000 through 2016, the population of people older than 50 has ballooned while the population of people aged 30 to 50 has fallen, according to the U.S. Census.

In Oakland County, at least, there are more people age 60 and up than there are school-age children ages 5-17, Cortright said.

The aging of the state’s population has been on the radar for years. In Oakland County, the growing population of seniors is called the Silver Tsunami by governments and groups trying to figure out what services an older population will need.

Many Reasons

Chalk it up to Baby Boomers choosing to age in place because of jobs, family ties or economic reasons, and a couple recessions that sent younger people to other states in search of economic opportunity.

Contrary to widely held notions that most older people seek out warm-weather states, many older people are “aging in place” rather than fleeing to warm-weather states.

With the exception of Florida, the states with median ages higher than Michigan’s are all in cooler climates: New Jersey, Rhode Island, Montana, Delaware, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

All states have median ages higher than what they had in 2000 as Baby Boomers have headed towards retirement.

But Michigan in particular has seen its population age at a faster clip than other states. Compared to other states, Michigan ranked 22nd in lowest median age in 2000. In 2016, it dropped 18 spots to 40th. The state’s median age climbed from 35.5 to 39.7. By comparison, Florida’s median age is 42.1.

Median means half the population is older and half is younger.

Michigan had a single-state recession in 2001 and lost jobs for six years. Then the Great Recession that began in December 2007 hammered pretty much everyone.

Perhaps not so surprisingly, Michigan’s share of young people reaching working age in 2000 has dropped over 16 years, with the state losing population in ages 19 and under, and in the age groups between 30 and 50.

How Old Are We?

In Michigan, the age group 55 to 59 had risen 50 percent, 60 to 64 by 75 percent, and 65 to 69 by 69 percent.

Meanwhile, the age group 30 to 34 has fallen by 16 percent, 35 to 39 by 25.9 percent; 40 to 44 by 29.25 percent, and 45 to 49 by 11.77 percent.

In Oakland County, the aging is more pronounced. The age group 55 to 59 grew 52.7 percent from 2000 through 2016, 60 to 64 by 94.8 percent, and 65 to 69 by 95.9 percent. The loss of population in the 30 to 50 age groups tends to mirror the state.

In Macomb County, the age group 50 to 54 grew 29.4 percent, 55 to 59 by 64.8 percent, 60 to 64 by 80.1 percent, 65 to 69 by 67.3 percent, and 70 to 74 by 18.4 percent. The county lost population between ages 30 and 44 by 14 to 21 percent.

Nationally, the population has increased by more than 41 million from 2000 through 2016, However, all age groups have grown, albeit by much smaller percentages than some states have experienced.

Behind The Numbers

It’s not that Michigan seniors aren’t moving to warmer climates – many of them are.

But just as many are staying because of economic reasons or family ties, according to Kurt Metzger, director emeritus of Data Driven Detroit, who analyzes Census changes for The Oakland Press.

“We are definitely seeing senior outmigration to both warmer climates and to northern Michigan,” Metzger said. “ I think that most boomers are tied to this state/region through family and friends. Those with limited means are “stuck in place,” while those with resources may spend part or all of winter in the south.”

Conversely, Michigan’s younger people are leaving for other parts of the country, putting off marriage and having children, and having fewer children when they do marry.

“We tend to send more young, child-bearing age, residents (particularly college graduates) to other parts of the country than we can retain or attract,” Metzger said. “Young people are delaying marriage and children longer than ever before. Family size is decreasing due to women’s increasing education and desire to have fewer children.”

Southeast Michigan, in particular, has a higher population of Baby Boomers than all but three other of the largest metro areas in the country, even as the population of millennials nationally now exceeds the population of Baby Boomers.

By 2035, the population of seniors in Oakland and Macomb counties will be nearly double what it is today. In Wayne County, it’ll also increase but not by as much as Oakland and Macomb counties, according to projections from the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments.

Planning For Services

Living longer lives brings its own challenges in Michigan, and anywhere in the country.

Among them are access to adequate health care, changes in housing, meals, and transportation.

• Seniors will use 50 percent of all hospital bed days and 30 percent of all ambulatory care,

• Zoning changes will be needed to allow for “accessory” dwellings for seniors, or shared housing, as well as financial programs to assist with home repairs and to enable seniors to remain in their chosen homes or communities,

More communities will have curb ramps, street furniture, and alternative transportation options to accommodate the aging population,

• A wider range of recreational options will be needed, as well as lifelong educational programs as local colleges and universities.

“We need communities for 55-plus that offer a large range of living options with activities,” Metzger said.

Already Happening

It already coordinates or provides many of the services that southeast Michigan seniors will need, including in-home care, meals-on-wheels, transportation, support for community senior centers, Medicare financial assistance, and chore services.

The Older Persons Commission in Rochester also provides many services for seniors in northeast Oakland County. In 2016, it logged:

• 56,291 rides for seniors,

• 29,354 participants in fine arts and enrichment activities,

• 6,636 support services for seniors,

• 117,959 meals home delivered,

• 2,350 participants in performing arts, and,

• 144,633 participants in health and wellness activities.

In Macomb County, an indication of the rising senior population is the number of people getting immunizations through the county health department.

About a dozen years ago, approximately 80 percent of the people getting immunizations at any of the county-operated clinics were children. Now, the number of minors and adults is roughly a 50-50 split, said Bill Ridella, director of the Macomb County Health Department.

“It’s a growing increase” of seniors, Ridella said.

He attributed it to the increasing number of people in Macomb County over age 55 and believes more elderly residents are heeding the advice of medical professionals urging seniors to not only get a flu shot, but also get vaccinated to protect themselves against pneumonia, shingles and whooping cough.

More seniors are grandparents, and increasingly trying to avoid catching – and spreading – such viruses to their grandchildren, he said.

The increase in the number of older adults getting vaccinated at the county facilities also is notable, considering the number of pharmacies that also provide flu shots.